Michele Lundeen

The 7th annual Baja Blues Fest at the Rosarito Beach Hotel is an event full of great music, good people, warm weather and for a great cause. The Baja Blues Fest Organization is a Non-Profit 501(c) whose mission is to help raise funds for Baja children’s education and well-being. All of the events hosted by the organization are related to music, culture and arts in efforts to raise awareness of children’s charities in Baja California, Mexico. Over the past six years thousands of people have come to Rosarito to enjoy a fun filled weekend of Blues music for a great cause. The Baja Blues Fest Organization has raised more than $78,000 to help the children in the Rosarito area. Some of the charities receiving funds include, La Mission Children’s Fund, Los Angelitos Orphanage, Benefiting Education and Community Advancement (BECA) and Friends of the Library.

Tom Stewart and the Backwater Blues Band

The festivities start off Friday night with some blues, food and drinks. The guests are dancing to the music and getting into the spirit of the weekend! The next day is the main event with artists and venders, raffles and a whole line-up of bands. This year’s band line up included the Grammy Award winner Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, Anthony Gomes, Gregg Wright, Tom Stewart and the Backwater Blues Band, Palaco Blues Band, The Bayou Brothers and Michele Lundeen, and Baja’s own band, Hola Soy Lola Blues Band.

The host band; Tom Stewart and the Backwater Blues Band have great musicians including saxophone players, bass players, guitar players that have been with the band for many years. The San Diego based band has performed at festivals and venues such as the Belly Up Tavern and Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge. They have been the host band for this event since 2012 and were so excited to be there again this year! A shout out to the music director of this event; Tom Stewart who is the drummer and band leader of the Backwater Blues Band who has been a part of this event since the beginning.

Anthony Gomes

Anthony Gomes is definitely a modern blues-rock artist. He still brings in the classic blues with a rock twist that the crowd loves. His very high energy, electric and dynamic stage presence is something to watch. Gomes has performed in seventeen countries and shared the stage with some amazing artists. Anthony founded the Music Is the Medicine Foundation in 2010 which is dedicated to changing the lives of others through the healing power of music.

Gregg Wright, the “King of the Rockin’ Blues!” was another artists that took the stage getting people up and out of their chairs and onto the dance floor. The local band of Baja; Hola Soy Lola Blues Band were welcomed for the 3rd time to the Baja Blues Fest stage. The band was so joyful onstage and had their own interpretation of classic blues rock music. The group heads a cultural movement called Border & Blues Jam, that promotes the blues and reviving the Tijuana music scene. The Bayou Brothers with Michele Lundeen have a Cajun and Zydeco feel to their music, which was very easy for people to get up start moving their feet more.

Hola Soy Lola Blues Band

Finishing the night off was the 2018 headliner band; Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band. With a funky zydeco sound that everyone just seems to want to dance to! Chubby is the third generation of zydeco artists and for more than 20 years the group has toured the world playing at different venues that span across the continents. On October 16, 2011 Carrier was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.

Throughout the whole weekend you could feel the love of the Blues music radiating outwards. This family friendly event is a great way to support children’s charities, enjoy the music and the people!

bajabluesfest.org
~Helping kids with “The Blues”~

The 7th Annual Baja Blues Fest

Christi Casey / BackStage360